Share Feedback on the FY 2026 Budget
Last year, to fund the community’s priority needs while responding to budget pressures and challenges, the County Board raised the real estate tax rate for the first time since FY 2020. As we prepare for FY 2026, we anticipate that revenue growth will not keep pace with rising expenses.
The County also faces multi-year budget pressures, including a high commercial vacancy rate, the impacts of collective bargaining negotiations, Metro funding, and increased demand for housing and human services programs. To continue being good stewards of taxpayer dollars, the County must make difficult budget decisions.
And that’s why the County Manager needs to hear from you.
Balancing the Budget
A difficult decision-making process lies ahead for Arlington as the County looks to balance revenue and expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year. Below is a complete infographic on the FY 2026 County Budget-- learn about budget growth, pressures, and options for balancing the budget.
WATCH: How does the County Manager develop a balanced budget?
Learn more about Arlington's current FY 2025 Adopted Budget
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Highlights from FY 2024 Close-Out
At its Nov. 16 meeting, the County Board approved several items related to County Manager recommendations for close-out funds for the Fiscal Year 2024. Of the almost $17 million in discretionary funding available, the Board approved one-time allocations of:
- $3.9 million to contractual and legal obligations;
- $2.8 million to safety & service needs;
- $0.3 million to the analysis and study of future operations/programs;
- $1.3 million to compensation adjustments; and
- Via an amendment, $65K and 1.0 FTE to fund a County Board Office Policy Director position beginning in March 2025.
The remaining $8.4 million will be carried over to FY 2026 budget deliberations.
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